If you ventured to Seaside Heights for the recent Polar Bear Plunge, then you know the drill. This is really for anyone planning to attend Saturday's Ocean County St. Patrick's Day Parade, who hasn't tried crossing Barnegat Bay from Toms River to Seaside since the Mathis Bridge construction began.  

Mathis Bridge between Toms River & Seaside Heights
Mathis Bridge between Toms River & Seaside Heights (NJ DOT)
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The Tunney Bridge, bearing all the traffic in both directions during the $74,000,000 overhaul, will maintain the one eastbound lane to the barrier island and two westbound to the mainland, says the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT).

Toms River and Seaside Heights police and Ocean County Sheriff's officers are coordinating traffic control at the base of the span on each side, for what's likely to be hefty congestion in each direction.

Meanwhile, DOT advises pointing the car toward Route 35, which has two main access points north of the construction - the Manasquan River Bridge linking Route 34 in Brielle to 35 Point Pleasant Beach, and Mantoloking Road, County Route 528, from Brick Township.

Just a reminder, though, that Mantoloking Road is a two-lane blacktop, and Route 35 narrows to two lanes, so budget extra time for the jostling and slow rolling.

Drivers of vehicles, trailers or parade floats larger than 11 feet will have no access to the Tunney Bridge. The jughandle to Douglas Road and Route 37 west will be closed to local traffic Saturday, 7 AM until 11 AM. DOT says that businesses will be accessible throughout the day.

DOT plans to reopen the Mathis Bridge in mid-May and keep it open until after Labor Day. The whole project is scheduled for completion in 2018.

If you're driving in from outside the area, DOT lists access routes:

Heading south on the Garden State Parkway
Take exit 98 for Route 34 south, which becomes Route 35 south, continue over the Manasquan River Bridge and follow signs straight ahead to Seaside.

Heading north on the Garden State Parkway
Take exit 90 (Brick Township). Turn right onto Chambersbridge Road and continue for seven traffic lights to the intersection of Mantoloking Road/CR 528. Turn left and drive to its end. Turn right onto Route 35 south for Seaside.

Heading east on I-195
Get off the interstate at  Exit 35A for Route 34 South (Brielle). Route 34 south becomes Route 35 south, which carries you over the Manasquan River Bridge and straight south to Seaside.

From Toms River via Hooper Avenue
Take Hooper Avenue north, turn right onto Drum Point Road, then turn left onto Adamston Road a little over a mile away. Take Adamston to Mantoloking Road, turn right onto Mantoloking Road and follow it to the end. Turn right onto Route 35 south and continue to Seaside.

From Manchester via Route 70
Take Route 70 to Brick Township and turn right onto Cedar Bridge Avenue, which becomes Mantoloking Road. Follow it to the end, turn right onto Route 35 south and follow to Seaside.

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